FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 10, 2026 Contact: Lisa Gardner Director, Communications Spokane City Council lgardner@spokanecity.org ********************************************** COUNCIL MEMBERS DIXIT, DILLON AND TELIS INTRODUCE AN ORDINANCE IMPOSING DATA CENTER MORATORIUM ********************************************** Spokane, WA – Today, Spokane City Council Members Paul Dillon, Sarah Dixit, and Kate Telis introduced an ordinance imposing an immediate one-year citywide moratorium on the acceptance, processing, review, and approval of building permit applications for the construction of new computer data centers; setting a public hearing; and declaring an emergency. “Communities across Spokane have made their voice clear with concerns about hitting pause on data centers. We need a regulatory framework to address this ongoing issue as we see data centers across the country drive up utility costs and water and noise pollution,” said Council Member Paul Dillon. “We must listen and lead to create safeguards that create a positive lasting impact for our economy and our environment.” Considering the detrimental impacts of computer data centers in communities across the United States, this moratorium provides time for the city to evaluate its preparedness for such projects in the context of the Comprehensive Plan, Water Conservation Plan, Water System Plan, and economic development strategy. Additionally, this allows the public to express their concerns before any potential projects move forward. "I support this proposal. The City of Spokane does not currently have the necessary framework to site and permit data centers. A moratorium will give us time to evaluate and plan for future development, while keeping neighborhood and environmental impacts at the forefront of our decision making,” said Mayor Lisa Brown. “I support this moratorium because data center developers have not yet shown they can address concerns about water use, grid reliability, environmental impacts, and costs to ratepayers. Until proven solutions exist, I cannot support expanding data centers. This moratorium gives us time to ensure Spokane residents are protected before moving forward,” said Council Member Kate Telis. “Energy intensive data centers have been popping up across the country with disastrous consequences,” said Council Member Sarah Dixit. “The environmental and economic impacts of this unregulated industry benefit huge tech companies at the expense of community members. The job of local government is to protect our community, and this moratorium does just that.” Spokane City Council will be acting on this item on Monday, June 15, 2026. Members of the community are welcome to attend the meeting, as all City Council meetings are open to the public, and share their perspective on the issue before action is taken. About the Spokane City Council: The City Council is the legislative body of the City of Spokane, which is home to more than 229,000 people and is located in the heart of the Inland Northwest. The City’s 2,000 employees strive to deliver efficient and effective services that facilitate economic opportunity and enhance the quality of life for all our citizens. For more information, visit SpokaneCity.org/CityCouncil/ and follow us @SpokaneCityCouncil on Facebook. ### Lisa Gardner, M.S.| Director, Communications & Community Engagement Spokane City Council 808 W. Spokane Falls Boulevard, Spokane, WA 99201-3335 Office: (509) 625-6226 | Cell: (509) 824-2240 lgardner@spokanecity.org NOTICE: Council Meeting Day Change Effective July 14, 2026: Agenda Review Meetings: Tuesdays at 11am Council Committee Meetings: Tuesdays at 1pm Council Legislative Sessions: Wednesdays at 6pm This email is subject to the Washington State Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW, and may therefore be subject to public disclosure.